William Michals To Cover Szot in SOUTH PACIFIC, 6/1-7/4

It has been announced that baritone William Michals assumes the role of Emile de Becque in Lincoln Center Theater's Tony Award winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC, at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, for a five week period beginning Tuesday, June 1st through Sunday, July 4th. The production's current Emile de Becque, Tony Award winner Paulo Szot, leaves the musical on May 30 for an opera engagement in Europe. He returns to South Pacific on July 6, 2010 and will play the role through the end of the show's run on Broadway on August 22.

William Michals has been understudying the role since the show premiered and has performed the role on many occasions. He appeared on Broadway in Beauty and the Beast and toured in The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Music Man, Les Misérables, Man of La Mancha, and The Phantom of the Opera. He frequently appears in concert and has released the CD, "William Michals - broadway in concert.

Directed by Barlett Sher, Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC, which also stars Laura Osnes as Ensign Nellie Forbush, swept the 2008-2009 theatre awards winning 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival as well as the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Award for Best Musical Revival. The show will end its record breaking run on Sunday, August 22, 2010, making it the longest running Broadway revival of a Rodgers & Hammerstein musical.

The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday through Saturday at 8 pm with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3 pm. Tickets priced from $75 to $125 are available at the Vivian Beaumont Theater box office (150 W. 65 Street), at telecharge.com, or, by visiting www.lct.org.

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy